Fluid distributing device



July 26, 1960 G. R. MEADOR 2,946,520

FLUID DISTRIBUTING DEVICE Filed April 15, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l illilll; HIIIIIIIN GORDON R. MEADOR IN VE N 70/? HUEBNER 8 WORREL A77'OPNEKY July 26, 1960 G. R. MEADOR 2,946,520

FLUID DISTRIBUTING DEVICE Filed April 15, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 GORDON R. MEADOR INVENTOR FLUID DISTRIBUTING DEVICE Gordon R. Meador,.Fresno, Calif assi'gnor, by direct and 'mesne assignments, of'one-tourthto Myron-C. Miiler, Dinuba, Calif., and "of three-fourths to-said Meade! 'FiledApr. 1 5,'-19-58,-Ser. No; 728,684 I Claims. '(Cl.'239--'-'490) The present invention relates -to a fluid distributing device and more particularly toa'portable sprinkler of the non-rotating type adapted to discharge fluid-substan- 'ti'ally uniformly over a substantially rectangular area.

:It is an object of thepresen't invention to provide a sprinkler of the stationary -t-ype adapted to distribute -fiuid substantially uniformly over ajigiven area.

' Another'object is to providea sprinkler having a substantially rectangular, or square spray;pattern.

Another object is to provide astationary-type sprinkler having no moving parts.

Another object is to provide a two-piece sprinkler.

Another object is to provide .a sprinkler which is sirnple and inexpensive to construct and with which there is a minimum of maintenance, repair and/or replacement problems.

Another object isto provide a sprinkler which-is'both portableandof lightweight construction and-which has a minimum of parts.

Another object-ism provide a sprinkler which-imposes .-a minimum pressure drop in an hydraulic system in .whichit is connected.

I deviceis limited in use to the sprinkling of lawns.

Other objects'areto provide a fiuid-distributing'device 'of the nature described which 'isdurable, -;dependable dug-operation, adapted to be usediin avarietyzof applications, and whichis highlyeffective.for-accomplishing its intended functions.

.These and other objects will become-morez-fullyap- .parent upon reference to the followingdescription. I in the drawing: v j

v Fig. 1 is a top plan viewofasprinkler embodying the .principles ofthe presentinvention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken on line .2- 2 of Fig. 1. 7

Fig.3 is a somewhat enlarged transverse section taken onlineEa-B of Fig. 1. j

Fig. 4 isa-somewhat enlargedfragmentarytop plan yiewof the sprinkler showing internal structure in dashed lines.

Fig. 5 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentarytop plan lview. of .the sprinkler with 'thescapremoved. .Fig. '6 is r a somewhat :enlargeddetail yiew .lookingatlhe undersidethereof. I

:Fig. .7 "is a diagrammatic view of a square area to be sprinkled with a somewhat enlarged bottomrplan view of theveapcentered intheiarea.

. .Fig. .8..is a.still.:further enlarged bottom ,plan'view of.

of the cap 2,946,520 Patented July 2-6, 1960 The sprinkler 19 includes a body 11 having 'asubstantially square base, as viewed in Fig. 1, and being upwardly convex. The body has'a central vertical portionflz, seen in Figs. 2 and 3, an upper substantially square head 13 integrally upwardly extended from the central portion, and --a; pair of upwardly 'concavo-convex side portions v14 terminating in lower ground engaging portions 15. The head, as stated, is square and therefore provides for sharp corners 17 having a special function as will be seen hereinafter. a

The head 13 "of the body 11 provides an upwardly opening, substantially cylindrical, socket25 concentric to the head and circumscribed by a cylindrical socket wall 25' concentric to an upright axis for the socket. A substantially circular plateau 26is integrally upwardly extended from the central "portion '12 of the body radially inwardly spaced from the socket Wall and substantially concentric to the socket, asbest seen in Figs. 3 and 5.

.The plateau terminates short of the upper surface of the head "and defines therewith an annular space circum- .fiatrparallel top and bottom surfaces 31 and32, respec tively, and a substantially circular rim 33 frictionally :fitted in fluid-tight engagement in the socket 25. The

cap provides a substantially circular lower boss'34 of the same size as the plateau. The boss projects downwardly I from the cap and when the latter isfitted in the socket,

as described, the plateau engages the boss in fluid-tight relation. Thus arranged, the cap and the upper head 13 of the body 11 define an annular fluid balancing chamber 36 having a substantially rectangular cross section, as seen in Fig. 3, andwhich circumscribes the plateau and the-boss. t

The cap 30 also has a'substantially square fluid can- 'ditioning cavity 41 in the boss 34 and in opposed relation to' the plateau 26. The cavity is defined by opposed walls =40awhich, if extended along imaginary lines 40b as seen in -Fig. :8, would meet in corners 40' of the cavity. The cavity is *radially inwardly spaced from and substantially :concentric 'to the chamber 36 so that the chamber circumscribes the cavity. The boss further provides four fluid "injection channels 41, which are, in effect, openings in walls "400, connecting the balancing chamber andth'e' cavity for'fluid passage therebetween. Additionally, the

I cap provides a cylindrical elongated ejection bore 42 concentrica'lly upwardlyextend'ed from the cavity in fluid communication therewith and opening upwardly of the leap. The borelhas a lower substantially cylindrical" surbeing radially related to the bore.

the leap showing the cavity and. indicating imaginary ,portionseof-the cavity walls,-.-swirling-water within the cavity, areas of waterconcen'tration, andoutlines .ofscgments .of. the area being.sprifikled by' dashed lines, and .alsotlindicating.jet streams .of wateraenteringrthe cavity through channels in the .cavity walls by heavy vector lines. 3

.Re'ferring more particularly to .the drawing, aifluid distributing device is rindica'te'dlbysthe nuineral 10in .Fig.

7 his significant toynote that the injection channels 41 l extend into the cavity 1% in substantially equally spaced relation 'cir cuniferentially of and insubstantiallytangen'tiial 'rela't-io'n to the "flu-id ejection bore 42. This tangential rel'itionship is more specifically described noting that l. The 'deviceiis fhereinafterrferred @to asasprinkler althoughby use or this termitis notinferred that the *the channelshave"longitudinal center or liuid'fievvflines, as infdicatedi'byvectors i'l in {Fig- 8, which are s b'stantially-ftangential to the-ibdre. ':Itfis-"also:to fbe noted fthat the channels eigtendintoj'the c'avityfadjacent toi'the corners thereof. Each channelfl'haszopposed sides, and 'oneojfjthe sides of. each. channel "is let-continuous "linearj extension of q the "side wall f40a'adjacent to the side} wall which such hannl'is'provided. Further, as best usuaizeaa;

Fig. 4, the cap 30 is fitted in the socket 25 so that the corners 40' of the cavity 40 are slightly offset from individually adjacent imaginary lines radiating outwardly from the center of the head 13 to the corners 17 of the head. To facilitate proper seating of the cap in the socket, depressions 48, or other indicia, are provided in the top surface 30 of the cap. These depressions are individually located adjacent to the channels and are in offset relation to the cavity corners. Thus, proper seating is obtained when the depressions lie precisely on radius lines extended from the center of the cavity 40 to the corners 17.

The central portion 12 of the body 11 has an elongated upwardly extended, preferably oval, fluid delivery passage 50 having an outlet 50 communicating with the balancing chamber 36 and an inlet 51. The inlet includes an enlarged internally threaded receptacle 52 adapted to receive a fitting of a garden hose, not shown, or the like,

lar segments 70 of the square having their apiccs at the center of the square. The lower concentrations 61 of water are believed to extend upwardly and outwardly substantially along the diagonals of the square so as to cover diagonal segments 71 between segments 70. It has been discovered through experimentation that by providing the smooth arcuate fillet 45, the trajectories of issuing water are maintained at low initial angles of emergence from the sprinkler. This is of major significance when the sprinkler is used in the wind. Another salutary action of the subject sprinkler is to be noted in this respect, namely, that the water is broken up in its travel through the sprinkler into minute droplets. Thus the effect of wind on the sprinkled water is minimized.

and a reduced throat 53. The outlet of the delivery passage is located between a pair of adjacent channels 41 when the cap 30 is fitted in the socket 25, as best seen in Figs. 4 and 5.

Operation The operation of the described embodiment of the subject invention is believed to be readily apparent and is briefly summarized at this point.

As explained above, the sprinkler 10 of the subject invention is designed to distribute fluid over a substantially square area, as indicated at 56 in Fig. 7. Accordingly, the sprinkler is positioned precisely in the center of the square area to be sprinkled so that the fluid ejection bore 42 is concentric to the center of this aera. Further, the sprinkler is oriented so that the corners 17 of the positioning head 13 lie on lines radiating outwardly from the center of the area to be sprinkled to the corners 57 of such area. A garden hose, or other conduit, not shown, is connected to the inlet 51 and the hose connected to a source of water under pressure, not shown.

Water under pressure is therefore delivered to the balaneing chamber 36 wherein the pressure is substantially uniform throughout and is substantially equal to the line pressure. From the chamber, water enters the cavity 40 through the injection channels =41 in a plurality of jets traveling at relatively high velocity. Jets of water from adjacent channels impinge and impart a swirling movement to the water in the cavity. The linearly related channel sides and cavity walls 40a direct the injected streams in substantially straight paths to adjacent streams for impingement therewith. With reference to Fig. 8, it is believed that areas 60 and 61 of increased water concentration are established in this swirling stream of water and that with the embodiment shown and described, there are eight such areas of increased Water concentration in peripherally spaced relation along the sides of the fluid conditioning cavity 40. Actually, it is believed that there are four areas, identified by the numeral 60, of relatively high water concentration spaced between the channels and four areas, identified by the numeral 61, of relatively low water concentration, the latter being located adjacent to the corners of the cavity at the mouths of the channels.

Actual tests with commercial embodiments of the sprinkler 10 bear out the superior results being obtained. For example, considering a specific commercial embodiment, the ejection bore 42 has a diameter of and a depth of the bevel 45 is 10 with respect to a horizontal plane in which the upper surface 31 of the cap 30 is placed; the balancing chamber 36 has a depth of from Water is distributed upwardly from the cavity. 40

through the ejection bore 42 in the described plurality of concentrated amounts with each such amount covering a substantially equal segmentof the square area being approximately 0.100" to approximately 0.125" and a width of from approximately 0.160" to approximately 0.175; the injection channels 41 have a width of from approximately 0.125" to approximately 0.150", and a depth of 0.050" to approximately 0.175"; and the cavity 40 has length and width both equal to 0.100. When the sprinkler is connected to a source of water at twenty-five pounds pressure through a one-half inch diameter hose, not shown, of fifty feet in length, a twenty by twenty foot square pattern is obtained. The water is distributed throughout this area so that there is substantially uniform coverage.

It is to be noted that the depth of the fluid ejection bore 42 is relatively critical in that it must be shallow enough to allow the concentrated substantially discrete amounts of water to emerge from the sprinkler without appreciable dispersion or merger. If this bore is made too deep, that is, too long, it has a tendency to merge these concentrated amounts of water into a cylindrical stream and thereby to defeat the purpose of the formation of said concentrated amounts in the fluid conditioning cavity 40. Further, it is found that optimum results are obtained when the cross-sectional area of the ejection bore 42 is greater than the combined cross-sectional areas of the injecting channels 41. Likewise, superior performance results when the cross-sectional area of the balancing chamber 36 is greater than the cross-sectional area of any one of the injection channels 41 and when the depth of the balancing chamber is greater than the injecting channel depth; in both of these instances the ratio is preferably two to one. Test results indicate that the above dimensions and relationships, or close approximations thereof, have a certain criticality inasmuch as appreciable deviation lowers performance characteristics.

From the foregoing it will be evident that a fluid distributing device has been provided which enables substantially uniform distribution of fluid over a substantially square area. Because the fluid moves relatively slowly into'the balancing chamber 36, it is found that there is minimum interference with the solid particles and thus less clogging of the device. The sprinkler besides being of the stationary type, is constructed of only two pieces and thus is easy to assemble, maintain or repair. Further, the device is relatively inexpensive to construct and to use. Although specifically described in connection with lawn sprinklers, it will be evident that the device has utility in many other environments.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain preferred embodiment has been shown in the drawings and described above in considerable detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed the appended claims. v

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A two-piece portable lawn sprinkler of the stationary type-adapted to distribute water-substantially uniformly over a substantially rectangular areahaving a center, the sprinkler comprising a body adapted to rest on the ground in the center of the areato be sprinkled and providing a central portion, an upper head, an upwardly open socket in the head, a plateau upwardly extended from the central portion concentrically circumferentially inwardly spaced within the socket, a cap frictionally fitted in fluid-tight engagement in the socket having a downwardly extended boss substantially the same size and shape as the plateau and in flat fluid-tight engagement therewith, the boss having a substantially rectangular water-conditioning cavity of the same shape as the area to be sprinkled in opposed relation to the plateau and bounded by opposed walls in rectangular relationship, the cap providing an elongated water ejecting bore opening upwardly of the cap from and concentrically of the cavity in fluid communication therewith, the cap covering the socket and defining thereby an annular water balancing chamber in circumscribing concentric relation to the cavity, the boss providing four elongated water injecting channels of substantially rectangular cross section interconnecting the chamber and the cavity in substantially equally spaced relation circumferentially of and having longitudinal center lines substantially tangential to the bore, the channel in each wall having spaced sides one of which is a rectilinear extension of the cavity wall next adjacent to the cavity wall in which such channel is located, said central body portion providing anelongated passageway having an inlet adapted for connection to a source of water under pressure and an outlet communicating with the balancing chamber for supplying water under pressure to the chamber whereby the pressure in the chamber is substantially uniform throughout so as to force individual jets of water at substantially uniform velocity through the channels into the cavity, said jets of water from adjacent channels impinging in the cavity to create a swirling mass of water having amounts thereof concentrated at locations individually corresponding to separate segments of the area being sprinkled, said ejecting bore being in peripherally adjacent relation to the walls of the cavity whereby the bore is adapted peripherally to such jets of water so that said concentrated amounts of water are discharged from the bore into said separate segments of the area to be sprinkled.

2. The sprinkler of claim 1 wherein the cavity is square; wherein the bore includes a lower internal cylindrical surface, and an upper internal frusto-conical surface upwardly divergently extended from the cylindrical surface; and wherein the cap has an annular top surface connected to the frusto-conical surface in circumscribing relation to the bore and in substantially parallel relation to the plateau.

3. The sprinkler of claim 2 wherein the cross-sectional area of the ejecting bore at said cylindrical surface is greater than the sum of the cross sectional areas of the channels; wherein the cross-sectional area of the balancing chamber is greater than the cross sectional area of any one of the injecting chambers; and

' wherein the depth of the chamber is greater than the depth of any one of the injecting channels.

4. In a fluid sprinkler adapted to distribute fluid over a substantially polygonal area to be sprinkled, such an area having a center, a body adapted to be positioned Within such an area and providing a chamber therein adapted to contain fluid under pressure, the body providingan upwardly opening fluid ejection passage adapted to be located substantially concentrically of the center of such an area, the body also providing an internal polygonal cavity of substantially the same shape as the area gara es tobe s anned, the arprovidingsubstantially straight upstanding sidewalls delining the cavity, said walls being "-in jcircurnfe'rentially spaced relation to'thepassage and-havin fluid injection 7 channels therein individually interconnecting the fluid chamber and said cavity for passage of fluid in individual streams from the chamber into the cavity,- the' Walls lying t in upstandingplan'es which intersect and define corners of the cavity, the channels being located in"'their.respective walls adjacent to the corners of the cavity, each channel having spaced sides and one of the sides of each channel being substantially continuously linearly extended from the side wall adjacent to the wall in which such channel is provided whereby each side wall directs the stream of injected fluid from its linearly related channel in a substantially straight path toward and for impinge- I munication with the bore, the body providing substantially straight side walls and corners defining the cavity, said Walls being in circumferentially spaced relation to the bore and having fluid injection channels at the corners of the cavity individually interconnecting the fluid chamber and said cavity for passage of fluid in individual streams from the chamber into the cavity, the channels being directed into the cavity and having substantially straight fluid flow axes tangentially related to the bore, the axes of adjacent channels intersecting within the cavity in front of one of such adjacent channels.

6., The fluid sprinkler of claim 5 wherein the bore includes a lower substantially cylindrical portion and an 'upper portion upwardly divergently flared from the lower portion.

7. The sprinkler of claim 5 wherein the cavity is rectangular, and wherein there are four channels leading into the cavity whereby the area sprinkled is substantially rectangular.

8. The sprinkler of claim 5 wherein the body includes an upper annular head and an inner plateau concentric to the head and in circumferentially inwardly spaced relation to the head; wherein the body includes acap fitted into the head in opposed relation to the plateau;

wherein said chamber is annular and is located between the head, the cap, and the plateau; and wherein said cap provides said side walls and corners and together with said plateau defines said cavity.

9. In a fluid sprinkler adapted to distribute fluid over a substantially polygonal area to be sprinkled, a body providing a chamber therein adapted to contain fluid under pressure, the body providing an upwardly opening substantially circular fluid ejection bore, the body'also providing an internal polygonal cavity of substantially the same shape as the area to be sprinkled, the cavity i being substantially concentric to and in fluid commuhicaj tion with the bore, the body providing a flat, imperforate bottom wall for the cavity opposite to the bore, the body providing substantially straight side walls, said side walls into the cavity, the channelsbeing directed into the cavity l by and having substantially straight fluid flow'axes substantially tangentially related to the bore,,the axes of adja-' as stants-11 concentric to and in fluid ,communic 1611 with'th'egpassagg the. body cent channels intersecting within the cavity in front of one of such adjacent channels.

10. The'sprinkler of claim 4 wherein said area has corners, and wherein the body provides indicia visible externally of the body and located in radially spaced relation to said passage at positions substantially corresponding to the positions of the channels, each indicia lying on a line radiating outwardly from the passage, whereby with said body positioned concentrically within said area, said radiating lines are individually aligned with the corners of said area so that fluid is distributed from the sprinkler in a pattern which is substantially coincident with said area to be sprinkled.

References Cited in the file of this patent, UNITED STATES PATENTS 579,873 Hitchcock et al 'Mar. 30, 1897 1,756,483 Estep Apr. 29, 1930 2,007,675 Erickson et al July 9, 1935 2,428,748 Barz Oct. 7, 1947 2,814,526 Blair Nov. 26, 1957 

